Zealandornis

Zealandornis; Temporal range: Early Miocene, ; 19–16 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Holotype humerus in cranial (A), caudal (B), dorsal (C), and ventral (D) views
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Family:	†Zealandornithidae; Worthy et al., 2022
Genus:	†Zealandornis; Worthy et al., 2022
Species:	†Z. relictus
Binomial name
	†Zealandornis relictus; Worthy et al., 2022

Zealandornis (meaning "Zealandia bird") is an extinct genus of zealandornithid bird from the early Miocene Bannockburn Formation of Otago, New Zealand. The genus contains a single species, Zealandornis relictus, known from a distal right humerus.^[1]

Discovery and naming

The Zealandornis holotype specimen, NMNZ S.52077, was discovered on the east bank of the Manuherikia River in a lower layer of the Bannockburn Formation in the Manuherikia Group, near St Bathans, Otago, New Zealand.^[1]

In 2022, Worthy et al. described Zealandornis relictus, a new extinct genus and species of bird. The generic name, "Zealandornis", combines a reference to the taxon's origin from Zealandia with the Greek "ὄρνις (ornis)", meaning "bird". The specific name, "relictus", refers to something that is "remaining" or "left behind".^[1]

Classification

Zealandornis is a member of the monotypic family Zealandornithidae. This clade, erected with the description of Zealandornis, was likely a member of the Telluraves, with similarities to the Coliiformes.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Worthy, Trevor H.; Scofield, R. Paul; Salisbury, Steven W.; Hand, Suzanne J.; De Pietri, Vanesa L.; Archer, Michael (2022-04-05). "Two new neoavian taxa with contrasting palaeobiogeographical implications from the early Miocene St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand". Journal of Ornithology. 163 (3): 643–658. doi:10.1007/s10336-022-01981-6. ISSN 2193-7192. S2CID 247993690.

[:0-1] Worthy, Trevor H.; Scofield, R. Paul; Salisbury, Steven W.; Hand, Suzanne J.; De Pietri, Vanesa L.; Archer, Michael (2022-04-05). "Two new neoavian taxa with contrasting palaeobiogeographical implications from the early Miocene St Bathans Fauna, New Zealand". Journal of Ornithology. 163 (3): 643–658. doi:10.1007/s10336-022-01981-6. ISSN 2193-7192. S2CID 247993690.

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